Press



Dec. 11,1923. 1,476,680

' M. H. BALLARD I 2 PRESS Filed Oct. 29. 1920 Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITE nae MILTON H. BALLARD, OE LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MA- CHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATEBISON, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION vOF NEW JERSEY.

PRESS.

Application filed October 29, 1920. Serial No. 420,421.

, Lynn, in the county'of Essex and Stateof 6 Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements 1n Presses, of which the following descr1ption,.1n connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a specification, I like reference characters on the drawings 1nlodlcating like parts 1n the several figures.

' This invention relates to presses and more particularly to machinesror cutting sheet materlal by the use of freely movableldies.

A machine still commonly employed in cutting relatively wide sheet material arranged in superposed layersand other large pieces of material, such'as hides, is known.

commercially as the beam clinker, It coniprises characteristically a block of a length to accommodate material of a great range of widths upon which the material is supported during cutting operations, and a beam which is movable toward and from the block to force the die through the work and which in its position of rest' is spaced from the block a distance just sufiicient topermit of the introduction of work and of the largest die commonly employed in such cutting operations. Since the material which it is desired to cut Inust often be subjected to the most careful inspection before each cutting operation in order to plan the cutting to the best advantage from the standpoint of economy of material and since the die must be manipulated in such manner as to position it properly with relationt to characteristics of the work and with respect to edge portions formed as a result, of preceding cutting operations, it is clear that the machine does not fit the requirements from the standpoint of efficiency, in asmuch as the beam is so near the cutting blockwhen in its upper position of rest that there is not sufficient space for the proper manipulation. of the work and of the die nor for such inspection of the work as will enable the operator to secure the best results. A number of machines have been constructed to overcome the, serious disadvairr tages of the beam machine but, so far as the facts areknown, none of the constructions prior to this invention has gone into extensive use. Some ofthe prior machines are not properly responsive to control by the operator so that work'pertormed with the aid of any of them is slow and laborious. liloreover, the construction in many cases is defective and deterioration is relatively rapid. a

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine of the type describedwhich will 7 be relatively simple iii-construction, efiicient in operation and free tromthe disadvan tages which have characterized prior constructions.

Important features of the invention reside in a novel press organization wherein a presser member is movable bodily in such manner that it mayco-operate with successive areas of a relatively extensive cutting block, and is operable through a single means for swinging the presser memberin any direction over the. block and for causing pressure applying operations, theconstruction and arrangement being such that sheet material of a wide range of widths the part of the operator and under conditions which permit of proper'inspection' and manipulation of the work.

The illustrative machine comprises 'a presser member carrying controlling means for the machine and mounted rotatably on a post which is movable lengthwise ofthe cutting block so that the presser member not only swings over any given area of the cutting block but may be adjusted to operate with different areas of the cutting block from one end thereof to the other. In such a constructionall the advantages of a single means for controlling both the lateral movements of the presser member over the block and its reciprocations toward and from the block are obtained and there isthe additionaladvantage in the construction of a co -operation be tween a readily controllable presser member and a greatly extended cutting block capable of supporting fabrics and other sheet material or the greatest ranges of'widths.

In another aspect the invention comprise a presser member mounted for co-operation with a' beam and rotatable upon a post so constructed and arranged as to hold lthe presser member constantly in a plane parallel withthe lower surfaceof the beam and contiguous thereto so that there is littleif any lost motion and deterioration of" the parts is reduced to a minimum.g,Conveniently, power'means carried by the beam is provided for moving the presser member may be cut with the minimum of elfort on' along the beam in either direction at the will of the operator, and, in the illustrative construction, the post for supporting the resser member is carried by the beam which applies pressure to the work through the presser member.

Other features of the invention and other combinations of parts will be described in tion showing the details of the mounting for the presser member. 7

In the illustrative construction there is disclosed a work-supporting bed 4; which may be in the'form of aI cutting block of well-known construction adapted to receive the cutting edge of a die whenthe press is utilized as a cutting machine. Preferably the work' supporting bed is supported 'adjustably on. the frame 6 of the machine, adjustment'in a vertical direction being accomplished through proper manipulation of the hand wheels 8 in accordance with an old and well known form of construction. Mounted in bearings in the frame 6 is a shaft 10 carrying eccentrics (not shown) for CO-OPQIFltlOIl with yoke members (not shown) which connect the lower ends of the rods 12 in pairs at each end of the machine, the construction and arrangement being such that one revolution of the shaft 10 causes a complete reciprocation of the rods 12 whereby the beam 1-l is caused to approach and recede from the work sup-- porting bed in pressure applying operations. It will be understood that the rods 12 are fixedly secured at their upper ends to the beamlt and that the whole construction thus far described is well known in the prior art.

In the illustrative embodiment of the in vention, the beam 14 has integrally formed therewith or fixedly secured thereto an extension 16 which is provided with a '2"- shaped guideway for a correspondingly shaped block 18 which is adapted to be received in the slot and is slidable freely therealong. Fixedly secured to the block 18 is a post 20 which is vertically arranged and movable along one side of the work supporting bed 4. Rotatably carried by the post 20 is a pressure member 22 having a bearing 24 which surrounds the post and rests upon ball bearings carried by a ring 26 fixedly secured to the post Serving as an additional support for the post there is fixedly attached to the lower end of the post a bracket 28 having a. flat foot 30 which is in slidable contact with a bar 32 securely attached to posts S L-carried. by the beam extension 16, one at each end thereof. As

will be o served from an inspection of Figure 2, the construction and arrangement of the beam extension 16 of the post 20 and of'the presser member-22 are such that the presser member 22 has an upper fiat surface which is held just out of contact with a similar surface on the beam 14. It will be understood, therefore, that when the beam 14 is reciprocated upon rotation of the shaft 10 both the beam and the'presser member 22 move toward. and from the work supporting bed to apply pressure to work upon the bed and to release thework so that the latter may be adjusted prior to eaclr pressure applying operation. Since the p-resser member is rotatable on the vertical post 20 a very considerable area of thebed 4: may be covered by the pressure member in its rotations about the vertical shaft and hence it is necessary to shift the presser member longitudinally of the work supporting bed relatively infrequently'as compared with prior constructions.

It may be pointed out at this point that the pivoted presser member in the illustrativeconstructionis much superior from the standpoint of 'efliciency than the ordinary sliding presser member of prior construction.

both because the friction between the presser member and its support is much less in the pivoted construction and a much greater leverage is provided in the illustrated arrangement for moving the presser member laterally over the work supporting bed. For

the reasons given the operator-finds the presser member readily responsive to light pressure in "movements toward and from operative position over the work, a fact which accounts in part for the high eificiencv of the machine. When it is desired to operate upon work on the bed that cannot be reached simply by rotating the presser member 22 about its vertical axis, the latter is shifted laterally and, in the preferred construction, power means is provided for this purpose.

The power means referred to above for moving the presser member. longitudinally of the work supporting bed comprises, in the construction shown, a single threaded member 36 which passes through and engages with the .block 18'. Clearly rotation of the member 36 in onedirection will cause inc the block 18 to travel along its guideway in belts 42 "and 44 respectively to pulley flanges 46 and 48 integral with or fixedly secured to the power pulley orfly wheel 50 loosely carried by the main shaft 10; Since the fly wheel 50 is continuously driven, the

pulleys 38 and 40 are also constantly in mo' tion, provision being made for running the pulleys in opposed directions through the twisting of one of the belts, in this case, the belt 44. Hence, in order tocause the member 36 to rotate in the desired direction it' is necessary merely to connect the proper pulley therewith. This is accomplished in any well known manner, as for instance, by providing clutch members 52 and 54 pinned to rotate with the member 36 and slidable along the shaft extension of the member 36 into contact with (Jo-operating clutch members 56 and 58 respectively whichare integral with or securely attached to the sleeves of the respective pulleys 38 and 40. Operatively connected to the clutch parts 52 and 54, respectively, are levers 60 and 62 pivoted upon the beam 14' and bothf'connected at their lower ends to a horizontal rod 64 which is mounted on the side of the beam 14 for sliding endwise movement. It will be clear that if the rod 64 is moved to the right the clutch member, 54 at the upper end of lever 62 will be moved into engagement with its co-operating clutch member 58 on the sleeve of the pulley 40, thus connecting the shaft extension of the member 36 to said pulley for rotating in one direction while if the rod 64 be moved to the left in Figure l, the clutch member 52 will be moved into co-operative relation with the clutch member 56 with the result that the other pulley 38 will be connected to the shaft extension of the member 36 to rotate the latter in the opposite direction. It is tov be understood that the particular means for rotating the screw member 36 selectively in opposite directions forms no part of my invention and that any preferred or well known driving mechanism may be used for this purpose. It is to be noted, however, that the driving means for rotating the screw member 36 is mounted upon'the beam ofthe press and moves with it during its reciprocations. The result is that the loosening of the belts 42 and 44 renders the rotatable devices incapable of driving the screw member 36 while the presser member is in contact with the work. Hence, if a workman through inadvertence or mistake should operate the controlling rod 64, while the presser member22 is in contact with the work, and thus connect up one ofthe driving pulleys 38 or40 with the screw.mem ber 36, no movement of the presser member laterally would take place because of the loosening of the belta abovenpointed out. Hence one source of danger in machines of this type is eliminated. Preferably, a belt levers 66 and 68are provided pivoted upon the beam 14' and operative to engage stops 7O adjustably' secured to the rod 64, the said levers providing means by which the rod 64 maybe readily shifted endwise in the proper dire'ction to 'cause the engage ment of the clutch for shifting the presser member in the desired direction along the work supporting bed.

vention, thestarting means for the machine is mounted upon the presser member so as to be movable therewith and hence always accessible to the operator. As shown, this starting means comprises a lever 76 pivoted in trunnions 7 8 carried by the presser member 22 and is provided with a handle'member- 80 which extends around the end and two sides of the presser member, thus making it easy for the operator to control the presser member in whatever position it may occupy in its rotation about the vertical post 20. It will be observed, therefore, that the handle 80 is useful not only forstarting the machine as will. be hereinafter described but for enabling the operator to move the presser member manually and locate it in the exact desired relation with respect to the work. formed in "a semi-circle and embraces the sleeve or bearing 24 of the presser member and" has upward extensions which carry 'pins or studs 82 receivable in a continuous slot 84 1n a circular member 86 which surrounds the said sleeve and which has a link extension 88 provided with a hub 90. Passing through the hub 90, and operatively connected thereto is a bar 92 which extends the full length of the machine and is mounted for rotation in bearings carried by rings 94 securely attached to the posts 34. Connected to one end of the bar 92 is a lever arm 96 to the outer end of which is attached a rod 98 which is operatively connected at its lower end to the clutch operating lever to control the clutch which is operative to connect the power pulley 50' to the shaft 10. It will be clear upon inspection of Figure 2 that depression of'theforward end of the 120 V lever 76 or, in other words, downward movement of the handle 80 will result in rotating the bar 92 throughtheoperative connections between the lever 76 and said bar by which'the outer end of'the lever 96 is 125 raised and thus, through the connecting rod .98, the clutch parts tripped to connect the power pulley to the shaft. To assist in supporting. the bar 92 there is provided a bracket 100 having an annular portion 102 no In the illustrative embodiment of the in- The rear end of the lever 76 is fixedly secured to the ring 26 .on the post 20 and carrying at its other end two spaced hub members 104: having inner cylindrical surfaces rotat'ably engaged with a; sleeve 106 which is slidable upon the bar 92 and which is fixedly secured to the hub 90 of the link extension 88. The arrangement is clearly such that the bracket 10.0 furnishes support to the bar 92 closely adjacent to the point of application of the force applied through the connecting member 86,88 to turn the said bar 92 as a part of the operation of tripping the clutch on the main shaft.

In utilizing the press as a cutting machine, the material to be" out, which may be leather or fabric arranged in a multiplicity of superposed layers, is placed upon the cutting block 4. After such inspection and repositioning of the material as may be necessary,

a die is located in the desired position On the work. Then the presser member which has been located at one side during these preliminary operations is moved into position above the die simply by swinging it about its vertical axis int-he post For controlling the pressermember the operator makes use of the handle 80 which is so constructed and arranged that itmay be 'readily grasped to position the presser member. Since the handle 80 extends along the greater portion of two sides of the presser member and also around the free end thereof, the position of the presser memher, even when it is located so as to lie parallel with the rear edge of the cutting block, presents no obstacle to the proper manipulation of the presser member through the handle 80. After the presser member has been located in the desired position above the die, a relatively slight downward movement of the handle 80 effects a tripping of the clutch on the main shaft withthe result that pressure is applied to the die through the beam 14 and the presser member 22. Since the pressermember swings about its post 20 over a very considerable area of the cutting'bed 4L, it is necessary to shift the supporting post 20 only a relatively few times in performing cutting operations along the whole length of the work supporta ing bed. To effect the shifting of the post 20 and, therefore. of the center about which thepresser member swings, it is necessary merely to shift the rod 64 and for this purpose the operator grasps one of the handle levers 66 and 68 and pulls the lever in the direction in which it is desired that the presser member should travel.

Having thus described the invention,

what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a presser member, starting means for the machine movable with remorse the presser member, a vertical post for.

rotatably supporting the presser member and arranged for movement lengthwise of the bed, and means controlled by the starting means for causing reciprocation of the 3. In a machine of the class described, a

work supporting bed, a beam extending longitudinally of the bed, a presser member, machine controlling means carried by the presser member, a post carried by the beam for movement longitudinally thereof and arranged rotatably to support the presser member, and means for causing relative reciprocation of the presser member and the work supporting bed timed through the operation of the machine controlling means.

4. In a machine of the character described,

a work supporting bed, a beam extending longitudinally of the bed above the same, a

post supported for movement longitudinally of the bed, a presser member rotatably mounted on the post and arranged to project into the space between the beamand the work supporting bed, starting means for the machine carried by the presser. member,

and means under thecontrol of the starting 'means for reciprocating the beam and thus operating the presser member. V

5. In a machine of the class described, a work supporting bed, a post mounted for movement along one side of the bed, a pressure member rotatabjly mounted on the post to swing into different operative positions with respect to the work supporting bed and movable also toward and from the bed in pressure-applying operations, and power means under the control of the operator for. moving the post along the work supporting bed. I

6. In a machine of the character described, a work supporting bed, a beam above the bed and extending longitudinally thereof, a block slidably mounted in the beam, a postsecured to said block, a presser member rotatably mounted on the post and arranged to project into the space between the beam and the work supporting bed, and means for reciprocating the beam to cause pressure-applying operations of the presser member.

7. In a machine of the character described, a Work supporting bed a beam above the bed and extending longitudinally thereof, a

I vertically arranged post carried bysaid beam for movement longitudinally of the beam and work supporting bed, a presser member'rotatably mounted on the post and arranged to be interposed between the beam and the bed, startingmeans for the machine movable withv the presser member, 7 and means controlled by the starting means for moving the beam and bed relatively to each other. whereby the 'presser member maybe caused to operate on Work.

81 In a machine ofthe'character described, a work supporting bed, a beam, above the bed and extending longitudinally thereof, a power shaft, vertically reciprocable' rods carrying the beam and operatively connected to'the shaft, a vertically a'rranged postcar- .ried by the beam its movement lengthwise thereof, a support or backing for the lower '20 end of the post, and a presser member rotat- *ably mounted on the post and arranged to mounted on the post and arranged to present relatively large flat'surfaces for co-open ation with the beam and with the bed, respectively' v 10. In amachine of the character described, awork'supporting bed, a beam' above the bed and extendinglongitudinally thereof, a verticallylarranged post slidably [mounted in the beam, "a presser member rotatably mounted on the post and arranged to be interposedbetween thebeam and the bed,'means for moving thebeamand the presser member toward and from the bed in pressure applying operations, and power means carried by the beam for moving the presser member lengthwise of the work supporting bed., v V

11;] In a machine offthe character described, 21 work supporting bed, a post supported for movement longitudinally of the bed, a presser member mounted upon the post, a power shaft having connections for reciprocating the presser member toward and from the bed, and power means under control: of the operator for shifting'the presser member along the work supporting bed. v

'12..In a machine of the character described, a: work supporting bed, a beam above the, bed and extending] longitudinally thereof, a vertically arranged post mounted in the beam for movement along one side of the bed, a presser member rotatably mounted on the post. power means carried by the beam for moving the post selectively in either direction lengthwise of the bed, a power shaft, and the shaft for moving the beam-and thereby causing pressureapplying opera-J tions ofthe presser member, and a manually operable lever on the controlling said shaft. .v

13. Ina machine of the character de pre'sser member forv connections between the beam scribed, a work supporting bed, a vertically arranged post at one side of the'jbedfa presser member mounted on the post and movabletowardand'fromthe bed in p'ressure applying operations, and power means Y for mine p e mdinailyflot the bed. i

14,111 a machine of 'the' classfdescribed, a work supporting bed, a bcam'mounted for Vmovement toward and from the bed, a presser imembe'r, starting lever carried by the 'presser member, a vertical postcarried by 'the' beam. for supporting the f'presser,

member, shaft controlledby the starting lever, and connections between the beam and shaft for causing. reciprocationof the beam 1,

and of the presser member toward and from. the work supporting bed.

, 15;"In a machine ofthe class described,

a work supporting bed, a beam extending longitudinally of the bed, a presser member,

a post mounted inthe beam for movement lengthwlse of the same'an'd constructed and arranged tof-suppo rt the presser member i with its up er surface constantly in a plane parallel with the under surface of thebeam, and 'means for reciprocating the beam for causing pressure applying operations of the presser member.

16. In a machine ofltheclass described,

a work supporting bed, a beam extending longitudinally of the bed, a presser member arranged to be interposed between the beam and the work'supportingbed, a manirally operable startin'g'member mounted on 'th'e presser member, a post carried bythe beam for movement longitudinally thereof and arranged rotatably to support the presse'r" member, and means for reciprocating-"the post, the beam, and-the presser member toward and from thework supporting bed.

17. In a 'machlne of the character" described, a work supp'orting bed, a beam ex.-

tending longitudinally of the bed 'above'l the same, a'post supported by thebeam, and a presser member rotatably 'mounted 'on the post and arranged to project intothe space between the beam and the worksupporting bed. and held by, the post constantly in parallelism' with the under surface of the beam, shaft, and connectlons between the beam and shaft for causing reciprocations of the beam and presser member.

18. In a machine of the'lclass described,

a work supportingbed, a beamabove the bed and extending longitudinally thereof, a post carried by the beam, a presser member mete see - mounted on the H nterposedbetiween V r V supporting bed, pow er means under control ost, and arranged to be t- 1e beam and the work of the operator, for moving the post along the-*work supporting bed, said post belng operative to hold the presser member constantly aplane -parallel with the work scribed, ar work supporting 7 above 'therbed and extending longitudinallythereoit a block slidably mounted in the:

supporting bed, a shaft, and connections be- "tween the beam and shaft to cause reciprocations of the-beam and pres'ser member.

19 In'a' machine of the character debed, a beam beam, a 'post'secured toisaid block, a presser member rotatably mounted .on the post and arranged: to PI'QJGCi) into the space between member is moved 20', In a machine of the character described, a work supporting bed; a beam' above the bed and entending longitudinally the beam and the work supporting bed, and a screw-threaded member passing through said block and arranged to be: operated to canselthe; block to travel along the beam whereby the supporting post for the presser longitudinally of the bed.

thereof, a vertically arranged post carried by said beam for movement longitudinally of; the beam and work supporting bed, a presser member rotatably mounted on the 7 post and arranged to be interposed between the beam and the bed, starting mechanism for controlling the machine comprising a rod extending parallel withthe beam, and

a lever mounted on the presser member and operatively connected to the rod for initiating reciprocations of the presser member and beam -with respect tothe work support ingbedl r 21.111 a machine of the character de scribed, a work supporting bed, a beam above the. bed and extending longitudinally thereof, a power shaft, vertically reciprocable rods carrying the beamiandoperatively connected to the shaft, a vertically arranged post carried by'the beam for moves ment lengthwisethereof and'l aving a support at both its upper and leader ends, and

' V a presser member rotatablylmounted on the post and arranged to be interposed between the beam and'the work supporting, bed.

' "22. In a machine of the character (le scribed,;a work supporting bed, a beam above the bedand extending longitudinally thereoia power shaft, vertically reciprocable rods supportingthe beam'and operatively connected tothe shaft, a second beam extending parallel with the first mentioned beam, ,a post carried by one of said beams and having a slidable bearing on the other beam, and a presser memberi rotatably mounted on the post and arranged to be interposed between the firstenen i n d e and the'work suppo ting bed- 23, In a machine ot'th'e' charact r clebe d-Ir en to be interposed between the beam and the bed, means for moving the beam and'the "scribed, a work supporting bed, a beam above the bed" and extending longitudinally thereof, a vertically arranged post slidably': mon 'itedin the beam, a. presser member ro tatablyvmounted on the post and arranged V presser member toward; and tronrthe bed in pressure applying 7 operations, a" starting mechanism for the machine comprising a f rod arranged parallel-1 with the beam' and movable, therewith, and; a manually operable lever mounted on the rotatable presser memv her. and operatively connected .to said r od I for starting-the machine;v H p 24. In a macl ne of the vcharacter described, a' work jsupportingjbed, a beam above the bed, and 'extend'ng beam, a press ermember uponthef post,v a power shaft hav ng con-',

nections for reciprocating the beam' and the between the' lever and link slidable' on the the 7 longitudinally thereof, a; post .slida bly;supported,bythe rOlta ta-bly imounted .a starting mechanism for the machinecomjv 25. In a machine of the character {described, a work supporting bed, a beam above the bed and extending longitudinally thereof, a vertically arranged post mounted in the beam for movement along onesi'de of the bed, a presserpmember 'ro-tatably mounted on :the post, power means carried by the beam for moving the'post lengthwise thereof, a power, shaft, and connections between the beam and the shaftj'for moving the beam, the post, and the presser member towardand from the work supporting bed in pressure applying operations.

26. Ina IIlL21ChlI1G of the character described, a worksup-ponting bed, a vertically arranged post at one S ide of the bed, a

presser member rotatably mounted on the Y po st,power means formoving the post 1ongitudinallyot the bed, and power means; for

reciprocatingthe post and presser member 7 toward and from theworksupportmg bed."

27. In a machine of the class described,a}

work supportingbed, abeam movableito ward and from the bed, Presser member mounted on the beam to move therewith in pressure applying operations, means for" causing reciprocation of; the beam comprise a pulley arrie by th am, and a -b lt erranged pa s, er and. the pulley a to a r r m. h s ft, th ons uctio and arrangement belnsr such: that as the T ing a shaft, power ir xisv for m ingj he mil present" member alone, th be m o'mpriSingf V beam moves toward the work supporting bed the belt is slackened and hence the power means for moving the piresser member lengthwise of the beam is rendered in operative. p 28. In a machine of the character described, a work supporting bed, a post supported for movement longitudinally of the bed, a presser member mounted upon the post, a power shaft having conneotions for reciprocating, the presser member toward and from the bed, power means for shifting the presser member and post longitudinally of the work supporting bed, and members one at each end of the machine for controlling the last-mentioned power means.

tions between the beam and shaft for causstarting lever.

ing reciprocation of the beam and of the 30. In a 'maichine of scribed, a work supporting. bed, a vertical the character depost at therear ofthejbed, a presser mem ber carried rotatively by the p-ost,*po,wer

.means comprising a beam oo-extensive with the work supportinqbed for causing reoip rccation ot the presser member toward and from the bed, and a .member movable with the presser member for controlling the a member carried by the presser member,

for controlling the power means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to thiss e'cificaition.

' ILTON H. BALLARD. 

